Liebherr, a German-Swiss multinational equipment manufacturer, has delivered its hydrogen-powered Liebherr T 264 haul truck prototype to Fortescue’s Christmas Creek mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The truck, named ”Europa”, will undergo testing in an active mining environment over the coming months.
This trial is part of a collaboration between Liebherr and Fortescue to develop zero-emission haul trucks. The results will inform Fortescue’s plans for future zero-emission vehicle fleets.
Oliver Weiss, Executive Vice President of R&D, Engineering and Production at Liebherr-Mining Equipment SAS, stated that both companies believe hydrogen and hydrogen carriers like ammonia will play a role in mine decarbonisation alongside electrification. He noted that the integration of a Fortescue zero battery into a Liebherr haul truck is a significant step in their partnership.
Fortescue Metals Chief Executive Officer, Dino Otranto said: “It’s fantastic to have our hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype now joining its battery electric equivalent, Roadrunner, up at site. Europa integrates for the first time a Fortescue Zero battery into a Liebherr haul truck, marking a huge milestone in our partnership with Liebherr.”
He added that over the next five years Fortescue will be working with Liebherr to develop ”a fleet of zero emission haul trucks, which will be progressively deployed across our sites from 2026”.
The hydrogen-powered truck will be refueled with liquid hydrogen from a plant at Fortescue’s Green Energy Hub at Christmas Creek.
The collaboration between Liebherr and Fortescue, which began in 2022, also includes the development of a fully integrated Autonomous Haulage Solution. Otranto emphasised the importance of a system solution for mining decarbonization, suggesting that the new operating system integrating fleet and energy management could significantly reduce Fortescue’s carbon emissions.
Weiss concluded: “What we learn from this hybrid truck will significantly shape and enhance our future development strategies for zero emission haulage. It is fascinating to see how this cooperation helps to fast track our planned developments of new technology from ideas to demonstration and operation in the field.”
